Best Place to live West of Denver (Colorado Springs, Aurora: to rent, homes)

[inthemid]

My husband and I will be relocating to the Denver area in the next six months. Although he lived there 10 years ago, I've never lived anywhere else and I would like to get some other opinions regarding neighborhoods and areas. I am from the Midwest where land is cheap, green, vast, and beautiful. Although I think there are some beautiful places in and around Denver, for the most part the city itself (as an outsider) seems too congested, somewhat dirty, and over priced.

We have been looking in Evergreen and Conifer areas but have also considered Morrison. I am interested in a beautiful area with views and room to play; most of our searches have been at least 5 to 20 acres. My husband likes Boulder but considers it overpriced.

My husband will be mostly working from home and I will be leaving a job as an executive with 16+ years working for the same company. I am hoping to start my own business even if it is merely a small boutique.

Any suggestions or input appreciated.

[chilaili]

Price range? Size of property? Buying or renting? Schools required?

[inthemid]

$400,000 to $650,000; Would like 5 to 20 acres but will settle with 2 if open land is near it; Buying; No schools required

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by inthemid

Although I think there are some beautiful places in and around Denver, for the most part the city itself (as an outsider) seems too congested, somewhat dirty, and over priced.

If you're coming from the rural midwest, I can see how you would think that way. But actually relative to other U.S. cities, Denver is less congested, cleaner and cheaper.

Anyway, take a look at Littleton, it's to the south and west of Denver and has what you're looking for. Littleton covers both the foothills areas and the mountains. You can get mountain property there if you want. I know someone in the mountain area that is selling 10 acres (no house) for $250,000. This tells me that's probably the current market rate for land in that area.

[Mike from back east]

Don't rule out the area 'tween Denver and COLO SPGS, like Larkspur.

Newbies to COLO need to know that east of I-25 Front Range corridor the land is flat, dry, short-grass prairie that is farmland of various sorts all the way to central Ohio. The I-25 Front Range corridor abuts the mountains and the land in that long north-south strip is expensive, everyone wants the best views, etc. There is not a lot of green here and few trees east of the mountains.

Just north of Colorado Springs, near the Monument area, is an area called Black Forest, it has 5-acre lots, trees and some room to play. Search in realtor.com on zip 80908 for properties or land in that area. There's a lot in your price range. The Kings Deer area of Monument also has many homes on 5-acre lots that may appeal to you.

I'd bet our regulars on here know of more areas that are suitable if you cannot find what you want in Conifer, Evergreen or Morrison. Perhaps up near Estes Park?

One thing we recommend to many new arrivals is to rent for a year, during which you can get around and really check out all the areas that are here, and there are many. Few of us expect homes in your price range to start flying off the shelf any time soon, there seems plenty of time to look around and explore before committing.

[2bindenver]

Conifer, Pine, Georgetown...Grand Juction

[maximusmgm]

You might also consider something near Elizabeth even though its SE of town.

[Nav]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Newbies to COLO need to know that east of I-25 Front Range corridor the land is flat, dry, short-grass prairie that is farmland of various sorts all the way to central Ohio.

This is totally untrue. Once you get south of lone tree (south Denver) on I-25 there are mesa's and rolling hills, many covered with forests. Castle Rock, Franktown, Elizabeth are all communities situated in hill country. The "open prairie" described above really applies to the land north of Lone tree all the way up to the Wyoming border. North of denver the land is flat, but south, its like living in the mountains without the snow. This is one of the reasons the property values are much higher to the south.

I would recommend Franktown or ELizabeth. Your price range may be a bit too low for acreage in the areas you mentioned, but you might be able to find something in Franktown, and you will be able to find something in Elizabeth. Even in Elizabeth, you are only 30 minutes to the Park meadows mall in Lone tree so you are not that desolate like you would be in the mountains.

Nav

[zenkonami]

Beauty is of course relative, but have you considered Aurora? Seems more midwestern in my understanding with quite of bit of land and space. Someone else could speak to it more specifically than I could, though.

[SheridanL]

I have NEVER done this before but,......Elizabeth? No way!!
I lived in Aurora (Centennial now) and,..dated a guy there back in the day AND,...I felt like I was in a lonely OLD town in Kansas! Freaked me out!!
When you travel on the road from there to the city..well...it seems like FOREVER!!! Maybe it has changed A LOT in the last 9 years but....hmmmm. Seriously I would have to be a little bit hesistant...don't flame me!! Maybe update me. "K"?